CENTRAL, La. (WAFB/Gray News) – Police in Louisiana issued a warning about a dangerous social media challenge that officers say caused a major crash.
“People who are posting these things on TikTok and other social media platforms, who have no responsibility for and do not care about your children, are giving them examples that entice children to follow them and we have accidents just like this,” said Central Police Department Assistant Chief Cliff Ivey.
According to police, a 17-year-old in a northbound vehicle ran off the road on Monday afternoon as it approached Central Thruway’s intersection with Frenchtown Road. The car crossed the median and hit a southbound vehicle before stopping and catching fire.
Police said statements from witnesses and the drivers involved indicate that the northbound driver was playing a “drift” game, or challenge featured on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, when he lost control of the vehicle.
According to officials, drifting is loosely defined as intentionally oversteering, causing a loss of traction.
“As the young man found out yesterday, there are real-world consequences for things we do that, even though you see them in cyberspace, you don’t respawn in real life and your car doesn’t automatically repair, and people actually get injured and killed on our roadways,” Ivey added.
Witnesses reported seeing the northbound vehicle weaving back and forth repeatedly as far back as O’Neal Lane before entering the city. They said, at times, the vehicle would “brake check” other cars on the road.
Police are now urging parents to caution their children against participating in the highly dangerous activity.
Police said no one was seriously injured.
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